{ title: 'The Press. (Cortland, N.Y.) 1972-1990, September 22, 1989, Page 20, Image 20', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/np00190002/1989-09-22/ed-1/seq-20/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00190002/1989-09-22/ed-1/seq-20.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00190002/1989-09-22/ed-1/seq-20/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00190002/1989-09-22/ed-1/seq-20/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: SUNY Cortland
STATE UNIVERSnY OF flEW YORK , COLLEGE AT C~RTLAND • SEPTEMBER ZZ, 1989 Dragon defense stuns By Rob Adamo Sports E<litor Despite Dick Puccio's brilliant a~rial bombardment and fine run- ning. the Cortland State Red Drag- ons won with defense, the way head r.:oach Dennis Kayser and his relent- less crew have recorded so ma11y of their past victories. Not even torrential downpours were enough to succumb the Red Dragons as they allotted their sec- ond victory of the season while defeating the Hobart Statesmen 17- 0. The Cortland fans gathered under their umbrella\ as they ea- gerly awaited the revealing of what the 1989 Dragons were all about. Playing to the chanting of \The Pooch (Puccio) j, on fire.\ Dick Pucuo uunpktcJ I h of JO pa-.. ... e., for 173 yards. The punishing play of Puccio and his offense was present as usual, despite a 2nd half -.houlder injury which will leave Pucciosidelined in Saturdays contest, but it was the opportunistic play oft he Red Drag- ons defense that really set the tone of the game. So many times in a fo<Jtball game. the offense has the adva11tage. After all, the offense is the detonat- ing force that puts the points on the board. but With a Red Dragon de- fense that allowed the Statesmen to cross the SO yard line mly twice in the game and never clo,er than the Dragon 30. they are <ieserving of much praise. \I thought the defense really playedout~tanding. De fieldposi· tion that they gave the offense the ball in was a big part of it. I also thought the kickoff coverage was outstanding and we forced their punter into a 27 yard average. That's a big turn around in field position,\ commented Kayser. The Dragon defense was. led by the solid play of senior all-American Bobby Keith. Keith led the defense with 7 tackles and is the team leader with IS tackles. A big addition to this years starting defense is sopho- more Vinny Swanda. The 6 foot I, 215 pounder from Ronkonkoma, N.Y. was seen numerous times pressuring Hobarts quarterback John Fogle. Swanda was second on defense with 6 tackles and 14 in the year. But what else? The inmman from Baldwin, N.Y. Sean Trepeta' s hard hitting could be heard from the sidelines, along with such defensive greats as Dave Manruso, Scott Endievieri, Blaine Morehouse, Steve McConnick and Jason Tyler. Two other senior sensations that Statesmen Q.B. Dick Puccio (left) weighs his \options\ against Hobart's Statesmen. Despite steady rain, \Pooch\ was 16 for 30 Saturday as Cortland triumphed 17-0. devastated the opponents offense were speedster Jimmy Taylor and the forceful inside linebacker Rick Stauss. The 1989 Red Dragon defense is looking to better their impressive statistics of a year ago as they held· opponents to less than 1 00 total rushing yards per game. Back to the offense. It was Puccio, whoturneda53yard, lOplay scoring drive with a 12 yard touch- down run in the final minutes of the first quarter. Puccio ran an option and Teddy Nagengast added the PAT kick. With 8:08left in 1st half action, Nagengast and his golden foot kicked a 25 yard fieldgoal. Next it was Puccio who spiraled a 32 yard touchdown pass to split end Grey Sirico, who left Hobarts defenders in a state ofbewildennent. Newcomer C.C. Grant pounded some key rushes as he compiled 53 yards while Kenny Williams led all fullbacks with 76 yards on 12 carries, one of which included a dazzling 28 yard run. Other Dragon notables were Nick Amodio, J.J. Graham, Steve McGowan, and Joe B;rxter. · At the \lalf it was the Reel Drag- ons as they led 17·0. Second half action saw the Dragons come close to the end zone many times but couldn't tum in any scores. Another solid contributing factor to the Dragons was the lone ranger oftheganie. :PunterJimmycatyhad some fine punts and is currel1~ly rank:ed2ndinECACwith9puntsfor an average of 39 yards:- - This Saturday the Dragons will take on Buffalo State as they enter the game with young freshman Brian Wild. Wild had the football earlier in the season as he directed Cortland to a 20-0 preseason vic- / ~ ~ I .,_.,.',•. ,. ~ .• :•: tory over Alfred. The 2-0 Dragons will look for 3- 0 why the Bengals are still looking for their first victory at 0-2. The contest is scheduled for a 1:30 start on Carl \Chugger\ Davis Field. \ 4; ~ ·~· ' r '• ~ ' ' :::